Privatization of Maroc-Telecoms will not lead to staff layout, official

The privatization of Morocco's Telecoms company "Maroc-telecoms" will not lead to staff layout but to a reorientation of engineers to sales careers, said chief-executive officer of the company, Abdessalam Ahizoun.

In an interview with Moroccan daily "Liberation," Ahizoune denied the existence of a list of persons to be fired and recalled the existence of an agreement-- signed under the chairmanship of the prime minister-- under which any fired employee will be reintegrated in the public service.

To a question on the connection of the rural world, he said "Maroc-Telecoms" has pledged to equip all villages with more than 200 households with telecommunication means by 2002, either by cable or by radio and satellite systems.

As to the impediments to access the information society, Ahizoune mentioned the high illiteracy rate, the limited number of English-speaking people and the high cost of equipment, mainly the purchase of a personal computer.

He further announced that the massive increase in mobile phone subscribers, with the new prepaid card, will entail a new cut in mobile and fixed phone rates.